Communication apparatus, control method of communication apparatus and program

ABSTRACT

A communication apparatus of the present invention includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire first information that causes the communication apparatus to decide whether a different communication apparatus has a function to disconnect a power source according to an instruction from the communication apparatus, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire second information that shows an operation mode of the different communication apparatus, and a notification unit configured to notify a user that, in a case where the wireless communication with the different communication apparatus is disconnected, the different communication apparatus is instructed to disconnect the wireless communication and disconnect the power source of the different communication apparatus according to the first information and the second information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/108,084, filed Dec. 16, 2013, entitled “COMMUNICATION APPARATUS,CONTROL METHOD OF COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND PROGRAM”, the content ofwhich is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.Further, the present application claims the benefit of Japanese PatentApplication No. 2012-283087, filed Dec. 26, 2012, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to communication apparatuses that canperform power source control between the apparatuses.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, there is a technique of disconnecting a power sourceof a different communication apparatus according to an instruction froma communication apparatus. Moreover, there is a technique that adifferent communication apparatus disconnects a power source accordingto its own operation mode in a case where a communication apparatusinstructs the different communication apparatus to disconnect the powersource (U.S. Pat. No. 8,085,310).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, there is a possibility that the user of a communicationapparatus does not know whether a different communication apparatus hasa function to disconnect a power source of the different communicationapparatus according to an instruction from the communication apparatus.Moreover, in a case where the different communication apparatusdisconnects the power source according to its own operation mode, thereis a possibility that the user of the communication apparatus does notknow whether the power source of the different communication apparatusis actually disconnected.

To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention tobe able to instruct power disconnection by a communication apparatus ina case where it is possible to disconnect a power source of a differentcommunication apparatus.

A communication apparatus of the present invention includes: a firstacquisition unit configured to acquire first information that causes thecommunication apparatus to decide whether a different communicationapparatus has a function to disconnect a power source according to aninstruction from the communication apparatus; a second acquisition unitconfigured to acquire second information that shows an operation mode ofthe different communication apparatus; and a notification unitconfigured to notify a user that, in a case where the wirelesscommunication with the different communication apparatus isdisconnected, the different communication apparatus is instructed todisconnect the wireless communication and disconnect the power source ofthe different communication apparatus according to the first informationand the second information.

Moreover, a communication apparatus according to another aspect of thepresent invention includes: a first notification unit configured tonotify a different communication apparatus of first information thatcauses the different communication apparatus to decide whether thecommunication apparatus has a function to disconnect a power sourceaccording to an instruction from the different communication apparatus;a second notification unit configured to notify the differentcommunication apparatus of second information that shows an operationmode of the communication apparatus; a reception unit configured toreceive a disconnection instruction of communication between thecommunication apparatus and the different communication apparatus, and apower disconnection instruction of the communication apparatus, from thedifferent communication apparatus; and a control unit configured todisconnect the communication with the different communication apparatusand disconnect the power source of the communication apparatus in a casewhere the reception unit receives the disconnection instruction and thepower disconnection instruction.

According to the present invention, it is possible to instruct powerdisconnection by a communication apparatus in a case where thecommunication apparatus can disconnect a power source of a differentcommunication apparatus. Moreover, it is possible to notify informationrequired for power disconnection to the different communicationapparatus in a case where the communication apparatus can disconnect thepower source according to an instruction from the differentcommunication apparatus.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a network configuration;

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a smartphone 101;

FIG. 3A is a software function block diagram of the smartphone 101; andFIG. 3B is a diagram representing example programs stored in the storageunit 202;

FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of a camera 102;

FIG. 5 is a software function block diagram of the camera 102;

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart of the smartphone 101 and the camera 102;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart realized by the smartphone 101;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart realized by the camera 102;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart realized by the camera 102;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart realized by the smartphone 101;

FIG. 11 is a sequence chart of the smartphone 101 and the camera 102;

FIG. 12 is a hardware configuration diagram of a camera 105;

FIG. 13 is a software function block diagram of the camera 105;

FIG. 14 is a sequence chart of the smartphone 101 and the camera 105;and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart realized by the camera 105.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a network configuration of a communication systemaccording to the present embodiment.

A reference numeral of “101” represents a smartphone (mobile phone) asan example of a communication apparatus. Here, it is not limited to thesmartphone and may be other apparatuses such as a PDA, a PC and a remotecontroller. A reference numeral of “102” represents a digital camera(hereafter referred to as “camera”) as an example of other communicationapparatuses that are communication partners of the smartphone 101. Thecamera 102 has a function to turn off (disconnect) the power source ofthe camera 102 by itself according to an instruction from the smartphone101. Here, it is not limited to the camera and other apparatuses such asa printer and storage are available. A reference numeral of “103”represents an access point (hereafter referred to as “AP”) thatestablishes a wireless network (wireless NW). The smartphone 101 and thecamera 102 participate in the wireless network established by the AP 103and perform communication through the AP 103 (110). A reference numeralof 105 represents a digital camera (hereafter referred to as “camera”)as an example of other different communication apparatuses that arecommunication partners of the smartphone 101. The camera 105 does nothave a function to turn off (disconnect) the power source of the camera102 by itself according to an instruction from the smartphone 101. Here,it is not limited to the camera and other apparatuses such as a printerand storage are available.

In the present embodiment, an explanation is given with an assumptionthat the smartphone 101, the cameras 102 and 105 and the AP 103 performcommunication in accordance with the infrastructure mode of theIEEE802.11 series. However, it is not limited to the infrastructuremode, and the smartphone 101 and the camera 102/105 may perform directcommunication in accordance with the ad hoc mode of the IEEE802.11series. Moreover, one of the smartphone 101 and the camera 102/105 mayoperate as an access point such that the smartphone 101 and the camera102/105 perform direct communication. Moreover, the smartphone 101 andthe camera 102/105 may perform direct communication by use of Wi-FiDirect. Moreover, the communication scheme is not limited to theIEEE802.11 series, and a communication scheme in accordance withBluetooth, IrDA, ZigBee or NFC (Near Field Communication) is possible.

FIG. 2 illustrates a hardware configuration of the smartphone 101.

A control unit 201 is configured with a CPU or MPU, and controls thewhole of the camera 101 by executing a program stored in a storage unit202. Here, the whole of the smartphone 101 may be controlled incooperation with an OS (Operating System) being executed by the controlunit 201. The storage unit 202 is configured with ROM or RAM, and storesvarious kinds of information such as programs to execute variousoperations described later and communication parameters. Here, as thestorage unit 202, it may be possible to use storage media such as aflexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, aCD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card and a DVD, inaddition to memories such as ROM and RAM. Also, data as illustrated inFIG. 3B is stored in the storage unit 202.

A reference numeral of “203” represents a user interface unit (hereafter“UI”), which displays various kinds of information and receives variouskinds of operations from the user. The UI 203 has a memory which is notillustrated, and can keep continuously displaying specified informationfrom a display control unit 305 described later for a predetermined timeperiod by using the memory. A reference numeral of “204” represents acommunication unit, which performs wireless communication in accordancewith the infrastructure mode of the IEEE802.11 series.

FIGS. 3A-B illustrate software function blocks realized by reading out aprogram stored in the storage unit 202 by the control unit 201 of thesmartphone 101. Here, at least part of the software function blocksillustrated in FIG. 3 may be realized by hardware.

A reference numeral of “301” represents a connection unit connected tothe AP 103 through the communication unit 204 on the basis of acommunication parameter stored in advance in the storage unit 202. Areference numeral of “302” represents a search unit that controls thecommunication unit 204 and searches for a camera. A reference numeral of“303” represents a share unit that shares model information and functioninformation with the camera through the communication unit 204. Here,the model information denotes the device name or manufacture name ofeach of the smartphone 101 and the camera, application versioninformation or information on the name which the user gives to thedevice, and so on. Moreover, the function information denotes a list ofthe function name to which each of the smartphone 101 and the cameracorresponds. Here, the function information may include commandinformation to be operated by a partner apparatus (the camera for thesmartphone 101 and the smartphone 101 for the camera).

A reference numeral of “304” represents an acquisition unit thatacquires an operation mode of the camera. A reference numeral of “305”represents a display control unit that controls the UI 203 and performsvarious kinds of display control. A reference numeral of “306”represents a mode decision unit that determines the operation mode ofthe camera. A reference numeral of “307” represents an instruction unitthat instructs communication disconnection or camera power-off of thecamera to the camera. A reference numeral of “308” represents adisconnection unit that disconnects communication with the camera. Areference numeral of “309” represents a decision unit that decideswhether the camera has a predetermined function.

FIG. 4 illustrates a hardware configuration of the camera 102.

The control unit 201 is configured with a CPU or MPU, and controls thewhole of the camera 101 by executing a program stored in the storageunit 202. Here, the whole of the smartphone 101 may be controlled incooperation with an OS (Operating System) being executed by the controlunit 201. The storage unit 202 is configured with ROM or RAM, and storesvarious kinds of information such as programs to execute variousoperations described later and communication parameters. Here, as thestorage unit 202, it may be possible to use storage media such as aflexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, aCD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card and a DVD, inaddition to memories such as ROM and RAM.

Reference numerals of “403” and “404” represent connection buttons thatare mutually and independently installed. A reference numeral of “403”represents a first connection button and a reference numeral of “404”represents a second connection button. Here, either one or both of themmay be formed as a button on a touch panel or a button that can beselected on a display screen. A reference numeral of “405” represents apower source unit of the camera 102. A reference numeral of “406”represents a user interface unit (hereafter “UI”), which displaysvarious kinds of information and receives various kinds of operationsfrom the user. A reference numeral of “407” represents a communicationunit, which performs wireless communication in accordance with theinfrastructure mode of the IEEE802.11 series.

FIG. 5 illustrates software function blocks realized by reading out aprogram stored in a storage unit 402 by a control unit 401 of the camera102. Here, at least part of the software function blocks illustrated inFIG. 5 may be realized by hardware.

A reference numeral of “501” represents a power source control unit thatcontrols the power source unit 405 to control the power source state ofthe camera 102. A reference numeral of “502” represents a connectionunit that performs connection processing with the smartphone 101 througha communication unit 406. A reference numeral of “503” represents asearch unit that searches for the smartphone 101 through thecommunication unit 406. A reference numeral of “504” represents a shareunit that shares model information and function information with thesmartphone 101. A reference numeral of “505” represents a modenotification unit that notifies an operation mode of the camera 102 tothe smartphone 101 through the communication unit 406. A referencenumeral of “506” represents a disconnection instruction reception unitthat receives a communication disconnection instruction from thesmartphone 101 through the communication unit 406. A reference numeralof “507” represents a disconnection unit that performs disconnectionprocessing with the smartphone 101 through the communication unit 406. Areference numeral of “508” represents a playback unit that plays animage stored in the storage unit 402 on a UI 406.

Next, a case is described where the camera 102 operates in a firstoperation mode. Here, the first operation mode denotes an operation modethat is transited by pressing the first connection button 403 in thecamera 102 by the user. While the camera 102 and the smartphone 101 areconnected to each other in the first operation mode, the UI 406 of thecamera 102 does not receive a user operation (for example, imagetransfer instruction). Also, the power source operation of the camera102 is not limited to this. Here, in a case where the power source ofthe camera 102 is in an OFF state, an explanation is given with anassumption that the user presses the first connection button 403.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence chart in a case where the camera 102operates in the first operation mode. FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchartrealized by reading out a program stored in the storage unit 202 by thecontrol unit 201 in a case where the user instructs wireless connectionin the smartphone 101 (601). Moreover, FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchartrealized by reading out a program stored in the storage unit 402 by thecontrol unit 401 in a case where the user presses the first connectionbutton 403 in the camera 102 (602).

When the first connection button 403 is pressed in the camera 102, thepower source control unit 501 turns on (powers on) the power source ofthe camera 102 (603 and S801). Subsequently, the connection unit 502connects to the AP 103 on the basis of communication parameters storedin advance in the storage unit 402 and causes the camera 102 toparticipate in the wireless network (wireless LAN) established by the AP103 (604 and S802). Here, the communication parameters includeidentification information (SSID) of the wireless network established bythe AP 103 and information such as an encryption key, encryption scheme,authentication key and authentication scheme used for communication withthe AP 103. Here, in a case where the storage unit 402 does not storethe communication parameters used for connection with the AP 103, it maybe possible to start a sequence to automatically set communicationparameters such as WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) and acquire informationon the communication parameters from the AP 103. Moreover, it may bepossible to prompt the user to input communication parameters throughthe UI 406. Thus, it is possible to store the communication parametersused for connection with the AP 103 in the storage unit 402.

Meanwhile, when the user instructs wireless connection in the smartphone101 through the UI 203, the connection unit 301 connects to the AP 103on the basis of the communication parameters stored in advance in thestorage unit 202. Thus, the smartphone 101 participates in the wirelessnetwork established by the AP 103 (605). Here, in a case where thestorage unit 202 does not store the communication parameters used forconnection with the AP 103, it may be possible to start a sequence toautomatically set communication parameters such as WPS (Wi-Fi ProtectedSetup) and acquire information on the communication parameters from theAP 103. Moreover, it may be possible to prompt the user to inputcommunication parameters through the UI 203. Thus, it is possible tostore the communication parameters used for connection with the AP 103in the storage unit 402.

Afterwards, when the user instructs connection with the camera 102through the UI 203 (606), the search unit 302 starts searching for thecamera 102 (607 and S701). To be more specific, the search unit 302searches for the camera 102 by transmitting a search signal inaccordance with the SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) defined inthe UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). Here, it may be possible to searchfor the camera 102 by transmitting a search signal in accordance withthe mDNS defined in Bonjour in addition to the SSDP or instead of theSSDP.

Also, in a case where the camera 102 is not detected within apredetermined time, it is assumed that the search processing ends as anerror and the error end is notified of the user. Moreover, in the searchprocessing, it is assumed that the power source is turned on to searchfor a camera to which wireless connection is instructed.

Meanwhile, when connecting to the AP 103, the camera 102 performsprocessing (S803) to connect to the smartphone 101. FIG. 9 illustratesthe details of the processing (S803) to connect to the smartphone 101.

First, the search unit 503 searches for the smartphone 101 (608 andS901). To be more specific, the search unit 503 searches for thesmartphone 101 by transmitting both the search signal in accordance withthe SSDP and the search signal in accordance with the mDNS. Here, bothsearch signals need not be necessarily transmitted, and a search signalto be transmitted may be decided as follows. That is, it is decidedwhether the smartphone 101 corresponds to the SSDP or the smartphone 101corresponds to the mDNS, on the basis of model information of thesmartphone 101. Subsequently, the search signal in accordance with aprotocol decided to correspond to it is transmitted and the searchsignal in accordance with a protocol decided not to correspond to it isnot transmitted. In this case, it is assumed that device information ofthe smartphone 101 is stored in advance in the storage unit 402. By thismeans, since the search signal in accordance with the protocol to whichthe smartphone 101 does not correspond is not transmitted, it ispossible to suppress the waste of wireless resources and reduce theprocessing load of the camera 102.

Subsequently, when the smartphone 101 and the camera 102 detect eachother (“Yes” in S702 and “Yes” in S902), the smartphone 101 and thecamera 102 share each other's model information (609, S703 and S903). Inthe smartphone 101, the share unit 303 requests device information tothe camera 102 and acquires model information of the camera 102 as aresponse with respect to the request from the camera 102. Moreover, inthe camera 102, the share unit 504 requests device information to thesmartphone 101 and acquires model information of the smartphone 101 as aresponse with respect to the request from the smartphone 101.

When the model information is shared, the smartphone 101 and the camera102 further share each other's function information (610, S704 andS904). In the smartphone 101, the share unit 303 requests functioninformation to the camera 102 and acquires the function information ofthe camera 102 as a response with respect to the request from the camera102. Moreover, in the camera 102, the share unit 504 requests functioninformation to the smartphone 101 and acquires the function informationof the smartphone 101 as a response with respect to the request from thesmartphone 101.

Thus, the connection between the smartphone 101 and the camera 102 isestablished (611). Here, when the connection is completed, the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 9 is terminated in the camera 102 and it advances toS804 in FIG. 8.

When the connection is completed, the function decision unit 309 of thesmartphone 101 decides whether the camera 102 has a function todisconnect the power source of the camera 102 by itself according to aninstruction from the smartphone 101 (S705). Here, based on the deviceinformation, if it has a predetermined device name and is equal to orgreater than a predetermined version, it is decided that the camera 102has a function to disconnect the power source of the camera 102 byitself according to the instruction from the smartphone 101. However, itis not limited to this and it may be decided based on whether thefunction information includes a function to disconnect the power sourceof the camera 102 by itself by the camera 102 according to theinstruction from the smartphone 101.

In a case where it is decided that the camera 102 has the function todisconnect the power source of the camera 102 by itself according to theinstruction from the smartphone 101 (“Yes” in S705), the modeacquisition unit 304 acquires an operation mode from the camera 102 (612and S706). Here, the mode notification unit 505 of the camera 102notifies the smartphone 101 that the camera 102 operates in the firstoperation mode (S804), and the mode acquisition unit 304 acquiresinformation showing that the camera 102 operates in the first operationmode (S706). Subsequently, the display control unit 305 displays(presents) a disconnection button (an icon in this case) to disconnectcommunication with the camera 102 on the UI 203 (613 and S707). Byoperating this disconnection button, the user can disconnect theconnection between the smartphone 101 and the camera 102, which wasestablished in 611 of FIG. 6.

On the other hand, in a case where it is decided that the function todisconnect the power source of the camera 102 by itself according to theinstruction from the smartphone 101 is not provided (“No” in S705), themode acquisition unit 304 does not acquire the operation mode of thecamera and the display control unit 305 does not display thedisconnection button.

Next, using FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, a case is described where thedisconnection button displayed on the UI 203 is operated. FIG. 10 is aflowchart realized by reading out the program stored in the storage unit202 by the control unit 201 in a case where the disconnection buttondisplayed on the UI 203 is operated.

When the disconnection button is operated by the user (614), the modedecision unit 306 decides whether the operation mode of the camera 102is the first operation mode (S1001). In the case of the first operationmode (“Yes” in S1001), the display control unit 305 inquires the userwhether to turn off the power source of the camera 102, through the UI203 (615 and S1002). To be more specific, a confirmation message like“Is it OK to turn off the power source of the camera? ‘YES’ ‘NO’”” isdisplayed on the UI 203. Here, in a case where “No” is selected, thatis, in a case where the power-off of the camera 102 is not permitted bythe user (“No” in S1003), it returns to the state before thedisconnection button is pressed, and the communication with the camera102 is continued (S1004).

By contrast, in a case where “Yes” is selected, that is, in a case wherethe power-off of the camera 102 is permitted by the user (616 and “Yes”in S1002), an instruction unit 307 instructs the camera 102 todisconnect the connection established in 611 of FIG. 6 and turn off thepower source. To be more specific, the instruction unit 307 transmits apredetermined disconnection request message including information thatinstructs the power-off (power disconnection) of the camera 102 to thecamera 102 (617 and S1005). Subsequently, the instruction unit 307 waitsfor a response from the camera 102 with respect to the disconnectionrequest message (S1006).

The disconnection request message transmitted from the smartphone 101 isreceived by the disconnection instruction reception unit 506 of thecamera 102 (“Yes” in S805 of FIG. 8). When the disconnection requestmessage is received, the disconnection instruction reception unit 506transmits a disconnection response message that is a response signalwith respect to the disconnection request message (618 and S806). Next,the disconnection unit 507 disconnects the connection with thesmartphone 101 (619 and S807). Subsequently, the disconnection unit 507causes the camera 102 to drop out of the wireless network established bythe AP 103 (620 and S808). Next, the disconnection instruction receptionunit 506 decides whether the received disconnection request messageincludes information to instruct the power-off of the camera 102 (S809).As a result of the decision, in a case where it is decided that theinformation to instruct the power-off is included (“Yes” in S809), thepower source control unit 501 turns off the power source of the camera102 (621 and S810) and the processing illustrated in FIG. 8 isterminated. On the other hand, in a case where it is decided that theinformation to instruct the power-off is not included (“No” in S809),the playback unit 508 transits to an image playback mode to display animage stored in the storage unit 402 on the UI 406 of the camera 102(S811). In such a case, the power source control unit 501 does not turnoff the power source of the camera 102.

Meanwhile, the disconnection response message transmitted from thecamera 102 is received by the instruction unit 307 of the smartphone 101(“Yes” in S1007 of FIG. 10). Subsequently, the disconnection unit 308performs disconnection processing of the connection with the camera 102(622 and S1008).

Also, in a case where the disconnection response message is not receivedeven when a predetermined time has passed since the disconnectionrequest message was transmitted (“No” in S1007), the display controlunit 305 displays an error message on the UI 203 (S1009). Here,regarding the case where the disconnection response message is notreceived, for example, it is caused in a case where the disconnectionresponse message from the camera 102 cannot be received due to wirelesscommunication errors. Moreover, it is also caused in a case where thecamera 102 cannot receive the disconnection request message due towireless communication errors. After the error message is displayed, itreturns to the state before the disconnection button is pressed, and thecommunication with the camera 102 is continued (S1004).

Thus, in a case where the camera 102 and the smartphone 101 arewirelessly connected to each other by pressing the first connectionbutton 403 by the user in the camera 102, it is possible to disconnectthe power source of the camera 102 according to disconnection betweenthe camera 102 and the smartphone 101.

In the above, an explanation has been given with an assumption that theuser presses the first connection button 403 when the power source ofthe camera 102 is in an OFF state. In a case where the user presses thefirst connection button 403 when the power source of the camera 102 isnot in the OFF state (powered-on), the flowchart progresses from S802 ofFIG. 8 in the camera 102.

Therefore, in a case where the camera 102 and the smartphone 101 arewirelessly connected to each other by pressing the first connectionbutton 403 by the user even when the power source of the camera 102 isturned on, the power source of the camera 102 is disconnected accordingto disconnection of the wireless connection. By this means, for example,even if the user puts away the camera 102 in the bag after pressing thefirst connection button 403, since the power source is automaticallyturned off according to disconnection from the smartphone 101, it ispossible to prevent the battery of the camera 102 from being wasted.

Here, a case is described where communication is forcefully terminatedin the smartphone 101 when the communication is established between thesmartphone 101 and the camera 102. Also, the forced termination ofcommunication is caused in a case where a termination instruction of anapplication used for communication with the camera 102 in the smartphone101, a stop instruction of a wireless unit of the smartphone 101 or apower-off operation of the smartphone 101 is given.

When the communication is forcefully terminated in the smartphone 101,the instruction unit 307 instructs the camera 102 to disconnect theconnection established in 611 of FIG. 6. To be more specific, theinstruction unit 307 transmits a disconnection message (here, a byebyemessage defined by UPnP or mDNS) to the camera 102. Subsequently, thedisconnection unit 308 performs disconnection processing of theconnection with the camera 102.

Meanwhile, when receiving the disconnection message from the smartphone101 (S812), the disconnection unit 507 of the camera 102 disconnects theconnection with the smartphone 101 (S813). Subsequently, thedisconnection unit 507 causes the camera 102 to drop out of the wirelessnetwork established by the AP 103 (S814). Next, the disconnection unit507 notifies disconnection of communication with the smartphone 101 tothe user through the UI 406 (S815).

Afterwards, the power source control unit 501 decides whether there is auser operation with respect to the camera 102 within a predeterminedtime (S816). In a case where there is the user operation within thepredetermined time (“Yes” in S816), the camera 102 is not powered offand the playback unit 508 transits to an image playback mode to displayan image stored in the storage unit 402 on the UI 406 of the camera 102(S817). By contrast, in a case where there is no user operation withinthe predetermined time (“No” in S816), the power source control unit 501turns off the power source of the camera 102 (S818) and the processingillustrated in FIG. 8 is terminated.

Next, a case is described where the camera 102 operates in a secondoperation mode. Here, the second operation mode denotes an operationmode that is set by pressing a second connection button 404 (differentfrom the first connection button 403) in the camera 102 by the user.Unlike the first connection button 403, it is assumed that the secondconnection button 404 cannot be pressed in a case where the power sourceof the camera 102 is in an OFF state. Here, the phrase “cannot bepressed” means that, even if the second connection button 403 ispressed, the camera 102 does not decide that it is pressed. However, itis not limited to this, and the second connection button may be lockedso as not to be physically pressed. Moreover, while the camera 102 andthe smartphone 101 are connected to each other in the second operationmode, unlike the first operation mode, the UI 406 of the camera 102receives various kinds of user operations. For example, while the camera102 and the smartphone 101 are connected to each other in the secondoperation mode, the user can transfer a predetermined image (includingmotion pictures and still pictures) from the camera 102 to thesmartphone 101 by operating the camera 102.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sequence chart in a case where the camera 102operates in the second operation mode. The smartphone 101 and the camera102 operate according to the flowcharts of above-mentioned FIGS. 7 to10. However, in the case of operating in the second operation mode,since the camera 102 is already in a power-on state, the camera 102operates according to the flowchart from S802 illustrated in FIG. 8.Hereafter, an explanation is given with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 inaddition to FIG. 11 appropriately.

When the second connection button 404 is pressed by the user in thecamera 102 (1101), the connection unit 502 connects to the AP 103 on thebasis of the communication parameters stored in advance in the storageunit 402. Thus, the camera 102 participates in the wireless networkestablished by the AP 103 (S802 and 1102). Subsequently, it advances toconnection processing with the smartphone 101 (S803, see FIG. 9) and thesearch unit 503 search for the smartphone 101 (S901 and 1103).

Moreover, when wireless connection is instructed by the user in thesmartphone 101 through the UI 203 (1104), the connection unit 301connects to the AP 103 on the basis of the communication parametersstored in advance in the storage unit 202. Thus, the smartphone 101participates in the wireless network established by the AP 103 (1105).Afterwards, when the connection with the camera 102 is instructed by theuser through the UI 203 (1106), the search unit 302 starts searching forthe camera 102 (S701 and 1107).

Subsequently, when the smartphone 101 and the camera 102 detect eachother (“Yes” in S702 and “Yes” in S902), the smartphone 101 and thecamera 102 share each other's model information (S703, S903 and 1108).After the model information is shared, the smartphone 101 and the camera102 further shares each other's function information (S704, S904 and1109).

Thus, the connection between the smartphone 101 and the camera 102 isestablished (1110). Here, when the connection is completed, theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 9 is terminated in the camera 102 and itadvances to S804 of FIG. 8.

When the connection is completed, the function decision unit 309 of thesmartphone 101 decides whether the camera 102 has a function todisconnect the power source of the camera 102 by itself according to aninstruction from the smartphone 101 (S705). In a case where it isdecided that the camera 102 has the function to disconnect the powersource of the camera 102 by itself according to the instruction from thesmartphone 101 (“Yes” in S705), the mode acquisition unit 304 acquire anoperation mode from the camera 102 (S706 and 1111). Here, it is decidedthat the camera 102 has a function to disconnect the power source of thecamera 102 by itself according to the instruction from the smartphone101. Subsequently, the mode notification unit 505 of the camera 102notifies the smartphone 101 that the camera 102 operates in the secondoperation mode (S804), and the mode acquisition unit 304 acquiresinformation showing that the camera 102 operates in the second operationmode (S706). Further, the display control unit 305 causes the UI 203 todisplay a disconnection button to disconnect communication with thecamera 102 (S707 and 1112). By operating this disconnection button, theuser can disconnect the connection between the smartphone 101 and thecamera 102, which was established in 611 of FIG. 6.

Afterwards, when the disconnection button is operated by the user(1113), the mode decision unit 306 decides whether the operation mode ofthe camera 102 is the first operation mode (S1001). Here, since it isnot the first operation mode (“No” in S1001), the display control unit305 inquires the user whether to disconnect from the camera 102, throughthe UI 203 (S1010 and 1114). To be more specific, a confirmation messagesuch as “Is it OK to disconnect from the camera? [Yes], [No]” isdisplayed in the UI 203.

Thus, the user is inquired whether to turn off the power source of thecamera 102 in a case where the camera 102 is in the first operationmode, while the user is inquired whether to disconnect from the camera102 in a case where the camera 102 is in the second operation mode. Thatis, in a case where the camera 102 is in the second operation mode,unlike the case of the first operation mode, the smartphone 101 does notmake an inquiry about the power source of the camera 102.

Here, in a case where “No” is selected, that is, in a case where thedisconnection from the camera 102 is not permitted by the user (“No” inS1011), it returns to the state before the disconnection button ispressed, and the communication with the camera 102 is continued (S1004).

By contrast, in a case where “Yes” is selected, that is, in a case wherethe disconnection from the camera 102 is permitted by the user (“Yes” inS1011, and 1005), the instruction unit 307 instructs the camera 102 todisconnect the connection established in 611 of FIG. 6. To be morespecific, the instruction unit 307 transmits a disconnection requestmessage to the camera 102. Here, the disconnection request message doesnot include information that instructs the power-off (powerdisconnection) of the camera 102. Subsequently, the instruction unit 307waits for a response from the camera 102 with respect to thedisconnection request message (S1006).

The disconnection request message transmitted from the smartphone 101 isreceived by the disconnection instruction reception unit 506 of thecamera 102 (“Yes” in S805 of FIG. 8). When the disconnection requestmessage is received, the disconnection instruction reception unit 506transmits a disconnection response message that is a response signalwith respect to the disconnection request message (S806 and 1117). Next,the disconnection unit 507 disconnects the connection with thesmartphone 101 (S807 and 1118). Subsequently, the disconnection unit 507causes the camera 102 to drop out of the wireless network established bythe AP 103 (S808 and 1119).

Next, the disconnection instruction reception unit 506 decides whetherthe received disconnection request message includes information toinstruct the power-off of the camera 102 (S809). Here, since theinformation to instruct the power-off is not included (“No” in S809),the playback unit 508 transits to an image playback mode to display animage stored in the storage unit 402 on the UI 406 of the camera 102(S811). At this time, the power source control unit 501 does not turnoff the power source of the camera 102.

Meanwhile, the disconnection response message transmitted from thecamera 102 is received by the instruction unit 307 of the smartphone 101(“Yes” in S1007 of FIG. 10). Subsequently, the disconnection unit 308performs disconnection processing of the connection with the camera 102(622 and S1008).

Thus, in a case where the user presses the second connection button 404in the camera 102 and thereby the camera 102 and the smartphone 101 arewirelessly connected to each other, even if the camera 102 and thesmartphone 101 are disconnected from each other, the power source of thecamera 102 is not disconnected. While the camera 102 and the smartphone101 are connected to each other in the second operation mode, unlike thefirst operation mode, the UI 406 of the camera 102 receives variouskinds of user operations. Therefore, there is a possibility that theuser operates the camera 102 during the connection and keeps operatingthe camera 102 even after the disconnection. In such a case, since thepower source of the camera 102 is not disconnected even if the camera102 and the smartphone 101 are disconnected from each other, it ispossible to improve the user's convenience of the camera 102.

In the above, an explanation has been given to the sequence between thesmartphone 101 and the camera 102 that has the function to disconnectthe power source of the camera according to an instruction from thesmartphone 101. Next, an explanation is given to a sequence between thesmartphone 101 and the camera 105 that does not have the function todisconnect the power source of the camera according to an instructionfrom the smartphone 101.

FIG. 12 illustrates a hardware configuration of the camera 105. Acontrol unit 1201, a storage unit 1202, a UI 1203 and a communicationunit 1204 have similar operation to the control unit 401, the storageunit 402, the UI 406 and the communication unit 407, respectively, andtherefore their explanation is omitted herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates a software block diagram of the camera 105. Aconnection unit 1301, a search unit 1302, a share unit 1303, adisconnection unit 1304 and a playback unit 1305 perform similaroperation to the connection unit 502, the search unit 503, the shareunit 504, the disconnection unit 507 and the playback unit 508,respectively.

FIG. 14 illustrates a sequence chart between the smartphone 101 and thecamera 105 that does not have a function to disconnect the power sourceof the camera according to an instruction from the smartphone 101. Thesmartphone 101 performs operation according to flowcharts of FIGS. 7 and10 described above. The camera 105 performs operation according to theflowchart of FIG. 15 instead of FIG. 8 described above. In thefollowing, an explanation is given with reference to FIGS. 7, 9, 10 and15 in addition to FIG. 14 appropriately.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart realized by reading out a program stored in thestorage unit 402 by the control unit 401 in a case where wirelessconnection is instructed by the user in the camera 105 (1401).

When the wireless connection is instructed by the user through the UI1203 of the camera 105 (1401), the connection unit 1301 connects to theAP 103 on the basis of communication parameters stored in advance in thestorage unit 1202. Thus, the camera 105 participates in the wirelessnetwork established by the AP 103 (1402 and S1501). Subsequently, itadvances to connection processing with the smartphone 101 (S1502). FIG.9 illustrates details of the processing in S1502. First, the search unit1302 searches for the smartphone 101 as the connection processing of thecamera 105 (S901 and 1403).

Moreover, when the wireless connection is instructed by the user in thesmartphone 101 through the UI 203 (1404), the connection unit 301connects to the AP 103 on the basis of the communication parametersstored in advance in the storage unit 202. Thus, the smartphone 101participates in the wireless network established by the AP 103 (1405).Afterwards, when the connection with the camera 105 is instructed by theuser through the UI 203 (1406), the search unit 302 starts searching forthe camera 105 (S701 and 1407).

Subsequently, when the smartphone 101 and the camera 105 detect eachother (“Yes” in S702 and “Yes” in S902), the smartphone 101 and thecamera 105 share each other's model information (S703, S903 and 1408).When the model information is shared, the smartphone 101 and the camera105 further share each other's function information (S704, S904 and1409).

Thus, the connection between the smartphone 101 and the camera 105 isestablished (1410). Here, when the connection is completed, theflowchart illustrated in FIG. 9 is terminated in the camera 105, and itadvances to S1503 of FIG. 15.

When the connection is completed, the function decision unit 309 of thesmartphone 101 decides whether the camera 105 has a function todisconnect the power source of the camera 102 by itself according to theinstruction from the smartphone 101 (S705). Here, it is not decided thatit has the function (“No” in S705), the mode acquisition unit 304 doesnot acquire the operation mode of the camera and the display controlunit 305 does not display the disconnection button.

Afterwards, when the communication is forcefully terminated in thesmartphone 101, the instruction unit 307 instructs the camera 105 todisconnect the connection established in 1410 of FIG. 14. To be morespecific, the instruction unit 307 transmits a disconnection message(here, a byebye message defined by UPnP or mDNS) to the camera 105(1412). Here, the disconnection request message does not includeinformation that instructs the power-off (power disconnection) of thecamera 105. Subsequently, the disconnection unit 308 performsdisconnection processing of the connection with the camera 105 (1413).

Also, the forced termination of communication is caused in a case wherea termination instruction of an application used for communication withthe camera 105 in the smartphone 101, a stop instruction of a wirelessunit of the smartphone 101 or a power-off operation of the smartphone101 is given.

Meanwhile, when the disconnection unit 1304 of the camera 105 receivesthe disconnection message from the smartphone 101 (1414), it disconnectsthe connection with the smartphone 101 (S1503 and 1415). Subsequently,the disconnection unit 1304 causes the camera 105 to drop out of thewireless network established by the AP 103 (S1504 and 1416). Further,the disconnection unit 1304 notifies the user that the communicationwith the smartphone 101 is disconnected through the UI 1203 (S1505).Further, the camera 105 is not powered off and the playback unit 1305transits to an image playback mode to display an image stored in thestorage unit 1202 on the UI 1203 of the camera 105 (S1506).

As described above, the smartphone 101 does not instruct power-off tothe camera 105 that does not have a function to disconnect the powersource of the camera according to an instruction from the smartphone101. By this means, it is possible to avoid troubles that can be causedby an instruction related to a function that is not supported by thecamera 105.

The present invention provides one or some of the plurality ofabove-mentioned effects.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions recorded on a storage medium (e.g., non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium) to perform the functions of one ormore of the above-described embodiment(s) of the present invention, andby a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computer may comprise one or more ofa central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or othercircuitry, and may include a network of separate computers or separatecomputer processors. The computer executable instructions may beprovided to the computer, for example, from a network or the storagemedium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or more of ahard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), astorage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication apparatus that performs wirelesscommunication with a different communication apparatus, comprising: afirst acquisition unit configured to acquire first information thatcauses the communication apparatus to decide whether the differentcommunication apparatus has a function to disconnect a power sourceaccording to an instruction from the communication apparatus; a secondacquisition unit configured to acquire second information that shows anoperation mode of the different communication apparatus; and anotification unit configured to notify a user that, in a case where thewireless communication with the different communication apparatus isdisconnected, the different communication apparatus is instructed todisconnect the wireless communication and disconnect the power source ofthe different communication apparatus according to the first informationand the second information.
 2. The communication apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising an instruction unit configured to instructthe different communication apparatus to disconnect the wirelesscommunication and disconnect the power source of the differentcommunication apparatus according to the first information and thesecond information in a case where the wireless communication with thedifferent communication apparatus is disconnected.
 3. The communicationapparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a decision unitconfigured to decide whether the different communication apparatus has afunction to disconnect the power source according to an instruction fromthe communication apparatus, based on the first information, wherein theinstruction unit instructs the different communication apparatus todisconnect the wireless communication and disconnect the power source ofthe different communication apparatus based on a decision result in thedecision unit and the second information.
 4. The communication apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein, in a case where the decision unit decidesthat the different communication apparatus does not have the function todisconnect the power source according to the instruction from thecommunication apparatus, regardless of the second information, theinstruction unit instructs the different communication apparatus todisconnect the wireless communication without instructing thedisconnection of the power source of the different communicationapparatus.
 5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe first information is model information that shows a model of thedifferent communication apparatus.
 6. The communication apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first information is functioninformation that shows whether the different communication apparatus hasthe function to disconnect the power source according to the instructionfrom the communication apparatus.
 7. The communication apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition unit acquires thefirst information from the different communication apparatus by thewireless communication.
 8. The communication apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the first acquisition unit requests the firstinformation to the different communication apparatus and acquires thefirst information transmitted by the different communication apparatusaccording to the request.
 9. The communication apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the second acquisition unit requests the secondinformation to the different communication apparatus and acquires thesecond information transmitted by the different communication apparatusaccording to the request.
 10. A control method of a communicationapparatus that performs wireless communication with a differentcommunication apparatus, the method comprising: a first acquisition stepof acquiring first information that causes the communication apparatusto decide whether the different communication apparatus has a functionto disconnect a power source according to an instruction from thecommunication apparatus; a second acquisition step of acquiring secondinformation that shows an operation mode of the different communicationapparatus; and a notification step of notifying a user that, in a casewhere the wireless communication with the different communicationapparatus is disconnected, the different communication apparatus isinstructed to disconnect the wireless communication and disconnect thepower source of the different communication apparatus according to thefirst information and the second information.
 11. A storage mediumstoring a program that causes a computer to operate as a communicationapparatus according to claim 10.